Cotton-stalk cutter.



W. B. HIGKEY.

COTTON STALK CUTTER. APPLIGATION FILED MAE.21, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO LITHON WASHINGION. D. C

WILLIAM B. HICKEY, 0F SAPULPA, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON-STALK CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915..

Application filed March 21, 1914. Serial N 0. 826,406.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. HIoKnY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Sapulpa, in the country ofGreek and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cotton-Stalk Gutters, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to improvements in agricultural implementsand particularly to that class known as cotton stalk .foregoing toprovide means for holding the cutter device against laterally shiftingduring operation of the machine, due to contact of a blade at one sidethereof without a counterbalancing contact at the other side.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained bythe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter specifically described and claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of thisspecification, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine forming an embodiment of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Throughout the following detail description, and on the several figuresof the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a frame in the formof a sled or skid, comprising the side runners 2 and a plurality ofcross pieces 3, an auxiliary frame A, being disposed upon the main frameat the forward portion of the machine. Upon this auxiliary frame is aseat 5 and at opposite sides of said frame are located cutting blades 6,suitably inclined rearwardly and projecting laterally from the frame soas to afford a proper cutting action when in operation. The innerextremity of each blade is bent upwardly, as indicated at 6, and securedby means of bolts, or other fastening members 7 to vertically slidableplates 8 mounted in flanged guide plates 9. As shown in Fig. l-theseplates 8 have a hand grip 10 at their upper extremities while a seriesof openings 11 formed in a vertically extending row centrally of eachare provided in which sliding bolts 12 are received for holding therespective blades at any desired adjustment. A

foot lever 13 is provided for each bolt 12 and disposed along with thesupporting socket for the bolts on a cross piece 2 of the auxiliaryframe 4 at a convenient place for the operators foot when he is seatedupon the seat 5.

Pivotally connected to the rear extremity of each runner 2 at 14 in thesupporting arms 15 and upon a common shaft 16 are a pair of spaced disks17 which are designed to hold the implement from slipping sidewiseduring the cutting operation, as when one of the blades strikes a stalkat one side without its opposing blade contacting simultaneously at theother side, thus tending to maintain a steady movement of the device. Alever 18 adjustably fulcrumed on the upright standard 19 is connected atone end to the shaft 16 through the instrumentality of the yoke 20 andaffords ample means for adjusting the disks to regulate their depth ofaction, depending upon various conditions which would require more orless penetration of these elements into the earth to insure properrigidity with respect to lateral movement of such devices ascomprehended by the foreging description.

The operation of the device will be obvious to those skilled in this artby reference to the description above and the figures of the drawing andit will be readily understood that as the machine is dragged between therows of stalks the blades 6 may be raised or lowered, independently ofcourse, according to the height it is desired they should cut, bygrasping the plates 8 and simulta neously releasing the locking bolts12, by means of their respective foot levers. This arrangement greatlyfacilitates quick manipulation of a blade to permit the same to passover a stump or other obstacle in its path.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is 1. A cottonstalk cutter comprising in combination, a frame, cutting blades carriedthereby, manual operating means to which said blades are connectedcomprising vertically movable adjusting plates, and look ing means forholding the blades at adjusted positions, consisting of spring actuatedbolts movable in a horizontal plane into and out of engagement With theplates aforeing their inner extremities bent upwardly,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents-,

adjusting plates to Which said blades are removably secured, said plateshaving manual gripping portions and a plurality of operatively connectedto said bolts for releasing the plates to permit of adjustment of thesame.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM B. HICKEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. SPALDING, Mrs. JOHN G. ELLINGHAUSEN.

Washington, D. G?-

